A comprehensive introduction to usingtechnology in all K-12 classrooms.

There are teachers around the world who want to use technology in their classrooms, but they’re just not sure where to start.That’s why eleven prominent bloggers,teachers, and school administrators gottogether to create this free ebook.

This is probably the most overused, yet most relevantquote on the planet. The times they are always changing and although the world continues to change with it, someeducational practices have become stagnant. Walking through classrooms, you can still see students lined up inrows, writing solitary exams, while the world continuously pressures us to shape collaborators, thinkers, andinnovators. Education should be “a-changing” right along with society.

Here is something that hasn’t changed though:

the best teaching is always built uponrelationships. Think back to your own favorite teachers. They were probably people who knew quite a bit about and made you feel that you were a unique and special individual. The fact of thematter is that they did this probably for most students they encountered. They were people who you felt believed in you and inspired you to do great things, maybe even to become a teacher.They always seemed to go the extra mile to ensure that you knew your strengths and careddeeply about your passions. No matter what technology comes into our classrooms, nothing willever replace a good teacher. Nothing.Now, take that good teaching and equip it with the advancing technology we now have at ourﬁngertips. This is the game changer for educators. Preparing our students not only to bedigitally savvy, but leveraging these technologies to help them create, communicate, connectand collaborate will prepare them to be contributing citizens to their future. When we were inschool, bringing the “TV” to the classroom was one of the best days ever. Now we have theopportunity to bring the world to the classroom every day. I would be excited to have thisopportunity as a learner, but I am even more excited as an educator. We have the means tocreate this revolution in learning where our students not only learn, but connect with peoplearound the globe.

Here is a problem:

you may not feel comfortable with this technology. That’s okay, becausethere are probably people in your school that are, and those people are willing to help to get youstarted. If they are not in your school, they are sitting here and waiting to jump into yourclassroom from miles away. We all became educators to do what is best for all kids, not just a small group of kids. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technology, though, I have three words for you: get over it. This is not about you, this is about our kids. We have to do everything to empower our students for their future, not our past, or even our present.

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What is your goal?

To have students becomesuccessful at school or successful in life?Don’t be scared to take risks and screw up.This is what you tell your kids everyday inschool, and we are meant to be their role models.Live your words in front of your students.My advice? When the screen pops up, toclick any of these words: Accept, Next, and OK.I promise you that you will not wreck anything, but the rewards on the other side of these wordsare worth the risk. Go for it!

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Image Credit: Kevin Bluer ﬂickr.com/photos/kevinbluer/

The best thing about this technology

is that itis built upon the same premise of goodteaching: relationships. Social media is about connecting and learning from people, getting toknow about other cultures and perspectives, sharing, and empowering our students to connect,not with computers, but with people. The biggest reason to use this technology is not about the“cool” factor. That wears off. It is about learning from people. By opening access to yourstudents, you are opening their minds to perspectives and experiences that go far beyond thefour walls of the classroom. Be the facilitator of these opportunities so that our students canlearn in a safe and meaningful way. When they grow up, you will be held in the same regard tothem as your teachers were to you. Provide opportunities and create change.

I know that the learning in this book will help you

to prepare your students for their futureso that they will not only contribute to it, they will lead and deﬁne it. Your students are going to use this technology either because of you, or in spite of you. I know which reason I want to be. How about you?

George Couros

George Couros is currently a school principal at Forest Green School and Connections for Learning, located inStony Plain, Alberta, Canada.

The schools serve ages K-12. Learn more about George in the “about theauthors” pages at the end of this book.